Someone You've Got To Meet: Hanna Cooper

I was fortunate today to spend 30 minutes talking with professsional coach Hanna Cooper, who blogs at makingadifference.typepad.com. I was smart, and I took a few notes that I'll share with you now.

I've always been inspired by Hanna's clarity and wonderful view on life in her writing, and with our interview today, I know that Hanna is someone you all could benefit from knowing, and perhaps even hiring her as your very own coach to get you over the hump.

Phil: Tell me a bit about what gives you your greatest joy in coaching.

Hanna: I feel that my true calling is one of a facilitator, where I work with someone to co-develop their vision. I love watching people grow and look to find their best fit.

Phil: Tell me about your coaching philosophy.

Hanna: I believe the client holds all the answers, and it's up to me to help unlock those answers. I don't give the answers. I ask the hard questions to help you come up with own answers. Believe it or not, people know most of the answers or can find the answers themselves, with the right prompting. I help people unbunk their own myths, and encourage them to believe in their own personal greatness.

Phil: Sounds like you love helping your clients "make it great!" OUTSTANDING!

Phil: How long do you normally work with clients?

Hanna: Some engagements were as short as 3 months, to help someone attain a specific goal. Some of my engagements required over a year coaching. Others have a coach as a touch point, to help them stay on track as they try to move their life forward.

Phil: So what's the focus of your coaching.

Hanna: My focus is simple: forward the action and deepen the learning and understanding.
It's NOT therapy.
It's NOT just tasks.
I help look for balance and perspective on whole life.

Phil: When do you know your coaching has been a success?

Hanna: When people ask their own coaching questions, then coaching has been a success. self-examination, knowing they always have a choice, that's making a difference. We often get stuck because we don't think we have any choice.

Wow, powerful stuff! I can't believe we packed it all into 30 minutes, but we did. I could have talked to Hanna for HOURS! Thanks for making time for me Hanna!

A bit more background on Hanna:

Hanna Cooper is a professional coach who works with people who want to make a difference.  Before starting her coaching business, Hanna spent a decade as a leader in the public health field as a manager and leader of public health programs in local and state government, and in non-profit organizations.

As a coach, Hanna specializes in coaching professionals who work in government and non-profit settings to reconnect with their passion and dedication, align their actions with their values, priorities and life purpose, and ultimately make a difference on the issues that matter to them.

In addition to her individual coaching work, Hanna also consults with public health organizations on strategic planning and facilitation projects.  Her education and background includes a masters degree in public health from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and coaching training from The Coaches Training Institute of San Rafael, CA.

For resources and ideas for how you can make a difference, visit Hanna's blog at makingadifference.typepad.com

Make it a great day, and make a difference today!
Phil

Phil Gerbyshak
http://makeitgreat.org